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Overview

The Molecular and Cell Biology Option (MCB) of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major is designed for students who have an interest in the study of life at the cellular level. Some questions that reflect the scientific area of this option are:

How does the living cell control its many functions at the genetic and molecular level?

How does the living cell sense and respond to its environment?

How does the living cell develop from undifferentiated to highly specialized cells?

What is the role of cell death in the overall development of an organism?

The MCB option provides students with the flexibility to study the field using a strong physical science (chemistry/physics) approach or by using the tools of genetics, cellular, and developmental biology. Either way, students acquire a solid foundation in molecular and cell biology that prepares them especially well for graduate and professional schools or for positions in industry.

Program Goals

Graduates will have and be able to communicate an understanding of molecular and cell biology sufficient to qualify for graduate or professional schools or for entry-level positions as industrial scientists.

Graduates will develop basic laboratory skills and be familiar with the standard techniques and equipment used in the modern molecular and cell biology laboratory.

Graduates will generate and interpret data with subsequent application to the solution of novel problems in molecular and cell biology.

Graduates will identify career opportunities and professional and ethical issues that concern scientists in the molecular and cell biology field.

Requirements to enter a major

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better and must complete Chem 110, 111, 112, and Math 140 with a grade of C or better.

Requirements to graduate

To graduate, students must meet all three of the following requirements:

2.0 cumulative GPA.

a grade of C or better in two of the following three courses: BMB/Micrb 251, BMB/Micrb 252 & Micrb 201.